Primary school to take in more than 100 extra pupils to cater for new homes

Brackensdale Primary in Mackworth which may soon have an extra five-classroom block (Image: Google Maps)

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Concerns that new homes being built at Kingsway in Derby will put pressure on places at schools in the Mackworth area have prompted Derby City Council to propose increasing the size of one of them.

The plan is to increase the intake of Brackensdale Primary School from 60 to 75 pupils annually on a phased basis. This will mean that within seven years, the school will have 525 pupils - up from 420 currently.

An initial consultation has already taken place and the council now wants to move to a formal four-week consultation which would lead to a final decision by March. Just two people responded to the initial consultation and both were in agreement with the expansion proposal.

Developer Kier Living is currently building 700 homes on the former Kingsway Hospital site, which falls in to the catchment area for Brackensdale Primary, and the council plans to ensure the school can accommodate children moving into the new properties.

The £1.9m extension will be built on the Brackensdale Primary School site (Image: Google Maps)

There are no plans to make any changes to the current school catchment area as a result of the proposal.

There were enough school places to accommodate children moving into the first phase of the housing development but new places are needed to provide for the second and future phases.

As part of the planning permission approval, the developers have entered into a Section 106 agreement with the council to provide £1.9m to create the additional school places. This will be used to build a new block of five classrooms on the Walthamstow Drive school site.

Development plans from across Derbyshire

If the proposal gets final approval, the increased intake would start in the reception year from September.

A report being heard at the city council's cabinet meeting on Wednesday warns that "without the proposed expansion, there is significant risk that the council will not be able to deliver its statutory duty to provide sufficient primary school places".

Kier is building 700 homes at Manor Kingsway (Image: Kier)

A council spokesman said: "This is an exciting opportunity for the school. Larger schools have the ability to offer a wider curriculum and a greater range of opportunities for all pupils.

"Increased numbers of pupils at the school will result in increased funding and the employment of any additional staff that are needed."

Brackensdale Primary School came into being following the merger of the adjacent infant and junior schools 12 months ago and David Hall became principal.